Tobacco-cutter



-- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1:.

(No Model.) 7 H I R. T. STEDMAN. v TOBAGG O GUT'I'ER.

Patented Apr; 24, 1894.

RTSTEDMA/V E NATIONAL umoelunum MANY.

w umaToN. o. c.

NITED STATES PATENT .FFICE.

RUFUS TUCKER STEDMAN, OF WINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

TOBACCO-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,867, dated April 24, 1894.

' Application filed January 26, 1894:- Berial No. 498,080- (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L-RUFUS TUCKER STED- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winston, in the county of Forsyth and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines designed particularly for cutting plug tobacco, and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the value of a certain length or piece to be cut from a plug of certain length and value may be readily and accurately d8.

termined.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectional view through the valueroller; Fig. 3, a plan view of the fixed lengthscale, and the surface of the accompanying value-roller; and Fig. 4, a view illustrating a modification. v

The main frame of the machine may be of most any desired construction, but in the present instance is shown as composed of two uprights or standards A and B, suitably secured to a base board or support 0. Journaled in the uprights is a'shaft D carrying at one end a crank or handle E, and at the other end a pinion F, which latter engages the teeth formed upon the shank or stem G of the reciprocating knife or cutter H. As the cutter requires but a limited movement, the shaft is not given an entire revolution, but is simply oscillated or rocked, and therefore the pinion F is provided with teeth on a portion only of its periphery. In order to retract the knife or cutter automatically, I provide a spring I which is coiled about the shaft and has one end secured to said shaft and the other end fastened to the frame as in Fig. 2. I

.T indicates a gage or follower, which is urged toward the knife or cutter by a spring or springs K, which latter are preferably but not necessarily coiled about the bars or ways L, which serve to guide the gage or follower.

Carried byand moving with the gage or follower J is a pointer or index M, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is arranged in proximity to the fixed length-scale N and the rotatable but otherwise fixed value-roller O. Scale N is anordinary scale or rule,-divided into inches and fractions of an inch,-and is secured to the direction of movement of the gage or follower. The value-roller O is j-ournaled or supported at its ends by bosses P formed on the inner faces of the uprights A B, (see Fig. 2,) and is provided with three sets of markings as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

One set of markings Q designates the length of the plug as generally manufactured, while the next set, R, designates the value, in cents, of the plug of that length. Certain plugs of the samelength are of different values, owing to a difference in width, in thickness, or in quality, andhence it is necessary, in order to make the machine complete, that the number in the first column, indicating length, be

repeated, with the respective values of such The plug is placed endwise against the gage and the latter pushed inward until the pointer comes opposite the marking S (5 cent) on the value roller,the value roller having meanwhile been turned by hand to bring the markings S which are opposite or in line with the numbers 9.15 to the upper side. Or, as the operator knows that three inches of a nine-inch fifteen-cent plug is worth five cents, he can refer to or measure from the scale N without referring to the value-roller. This scale N avoids the necessity for making a large number of markings S in the horizontal spaces, for, where one or two valuations are given in such spaces, the valuations of larger or smaller pieces may be determined by reference to said scale N. For instance, if a purchaser wanted a piece of odd length of any plug; that is, a piece whose value is not indicated by a marking S upon scale 0, the'pointer by working in conjunction withboth scales, indicates upon'the scale N the length desired, while it bears such a relation to the markings S on scale 0 (falling to one side of or between such markings S) as to enable the operator to quickly compute the value.

In some of the lines I have shown only one marking S, and in others I have shown more, this being a matter capable of variation according to the requirements of the trade. So too, I have shown but seventeen lines of markings to indicate corresponding grades of plugs, but obviously the markings may be extended to cover most any desired number of grades. Again, although I have shown a length scale of but six inches, I do not wish to be restricted to this specific size, as it is obvious that the scale and the graduated portion of the roller may be lengthened or shortened as desired.

While I have shown and described, and prefer to use, the roller 0 with a plurality of graduations, this may be dispensed with and a series of separate and removable bars 0, each graduated as desired, used in lieu of the roller, said bars being seated at their ends in sockets or other suitable supports as in Fig. 4, or joined together to form an endless chain of bars to be rotated as desired.

In some cases the length scale may be dispensed with, for where it is the common practice to divide whole plugs of a certain length, upon certain lines, the lengths of such cut portions will be determined by the pointer in moving over the value-roller or scale 0.

For instance, nine inch plugs of the value of ten cents are usually divided into two pieces; while twelve inch plugs of the value of fifteen cents are usually divided into three equal parts; and hence the marking 5 in these respective lines will at once indicate the length and value of the piece cut 06. It is preferred, however, to employ the two scales, but instead of making the length scale separate from the value scale, it maybe made upon or as a part of the latter, as indicated at N, Fig. 3.

The length scale N is generally to be used independently of the value-roller for oddshaped plugs whose length and value are not marked upon the value-roller, and also for use in cutting oif pieces of a known length. For instance, there are no six inch or seven inch plugs marked on the roller and these plugs are usually sold at ten cents. So when five cents worth of either is wanted, the operator knows that it is a piece of three or three and one-half inches that is to be out OK, and he has but to refer to the length scale N.

WVhile the value-roller is marked to indicate five and ten cents Worth of the lengths and prices most commonly sold, its greatest value resides in indicating five and ten cents worth of plugs not readily figured in the mind; for instance, five cents worth of twelve-inch thirty-five cent plug.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a tobacco-cutting machine, the combination with a main frame, cutter, and its actuating mechanism; of a gage or follower provided with a pointer; and a scale graduated to indicate the length and value of the plug to be cut, and also the value of a stated portion of such plug.

2. In a tobacco-cutting machine, the combination with the main frame, the cutter and its actuating mechanism; of a gage or follower; a scale N divided into inches; a scale 0 graduated to indicate the length and value of the plug to be cut, and also the value of a portion of such plug; and a pointer carried by the follower and working in conjunction with both scales.

8. In a tobacco-cutting machine, the combination with a main frame, a cutter, and means for actuating the latter; of a gage or follower; a scale divided into inches; a second scale indicating the values of difierent plugs of given length and the values of portions of such diiferent plugs; and a pointer carried by the follower and working inconjunction with both scales.

4. In combination with a main frame, cutter, and its actuating mechanism; a gage or follower provided with a pointer; and a 1'0- tary scale indicating the length and values of different plugs, and also the values of portions of said plugs.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

RUFUS TUCKER STEDMAN.

Witnesses:

L. RIPLEY, O. M. ORR. 

